A document of title is usually issued by a bailee covering goods in the bailee's possession or care UCC 1-201). It represents ownership of the goods and is ordinarily needed to obtain the goods from the bailee. The two major types of documents of title are bills of lading issued by carriers) and warehouse receipts_ A warehouse receipt is issued by a person engaged in the business of storing goods for hire. Security for short-term inventory financing can be arranged if the debtor places its inventory under the control of the lender or its agent e.g., a public warehouse), and the lender holds the warehouse receipts.

The objective of JIT is to reduce carrying costs by eliminating inventories and increasing the deliveries made by suppliers. Ideally, shipments of raw materials are received just in time to be incorporated into the manufacturing process. The focus of quality control under JIT is the prevention of quality problems. Quality' control is shifted to the supplier. JIT companies typically do not inspect incoming goods; the assumption is that receipts are of perfect quality. Suppliers are limited to those who guarantee perfect quality and prompt delivery.

The current generation of ERP software EPP II) has added front-office functions.
Customer relationship management applications in ERP II extend to customer service, finance-related matters, sales, and database creation and maintenance. Integrated data are helpful in better understanding customer needs, such as product preference or location of retail outlets. Thus, the organization may be able to optimize its sales forecasts, product line, and inventory levels.